Employment rate differences for AS people, US vs Europe

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I'm getting the impression that Aspergians in the US have a much higher employment rate than those in Europe, with the extensive entitlement systems that are in place here. Personally I live in the Marxist hell country Sweden, so I have little reason to look for work. The government has personally brushed me the wrong way several times too, so I would feel very bad paying any taxes. I'm trying to move to the US though, but would need to win at the green card lottery first.

It looks like the US is moving the same direction as Europe as far as "disability" goes though, I read that six million Americans are on SSI or SSDI for mental health reasons now. Still, it's not nearly as bad as marxist Europe yet. Anyway, my question is - how large an impact has the difference in benefits made on the employability of Aspergians? People with AS in Sweden usually have the government interfering with their lives, trying to tell them they can't manage their own lives, deciding what's best for them etc, a very frustrating experience. I've not bothered getting diagnosed myself since I don't want anything to do with the government(or people in general for that matter, but I would see a point in doing it if I lived in a free country) so I only apply for the regular welfare checks. Many Americans on this forum on the other hand seem to have it all - a decent apartment, a full-time well-paying job and maybe stable company too. It goes to show how bad the government is at solving problems.

Note: If you're neither from the US or Europe, pick the type of system that matches your country the most.
Second note: If you've not entered the labour force yet, pick what you predict you will end up as.
Third note: "Employable" means that you've got a real job not related to disability or that you're merely between jobs. "Not employable" means you're not interested in work, feel you're not able to hold or get a real job, or have been unemployed for at least six months. Supported employment counts as "not employable" as well.

Someone around here posted that only 7% of those with AS/HFA work in the UK; all I can find concerning the US is, "...most hold no job, ...". The latter might be worldwide however ("Western").

I found some for the US; depending on the study, it ranges from 0% up to 47% for the highest of functioning individuals. The latter are mostly menial and poorly paid jobs, i.e., far below the cognitive potential of the individual.

Last edited by Danielismyname on 04 Mar 2008, 7:45 am, edited 1 time in total.

I kind of dream about being on SSI sometimes. I am not sure how I will fit myself into the world of work, and office work is making me burn out fast. All I want is to get out of it as soon as I possibly can.

All you do is you find nice excuses and blame the government that you don't bother to look out for an employment.
Sorry, but if you really would want to get a job you would go out any try - instead you blame the "marxist europe" for all the entitlements they grant and that way giving you no reason to work. Makes no sense at all.
Get real about yourself and act accordingly instead of blaming others.

I agree with Rossi.

The welfare state is a privilege that most people in the world can only dream of. Some people who grow up in it are spoilt and think that if they lived in another country their lives would resemble a commercial, but that's just ignorance. Unfortunately it's rather common.

It's also disrespectful.

About the poll, it makes no sense. Employable? Everybody is potentially employable. Some people can't find work no matter what their qualifications, some find work that suits them and thrive. And for most people things go back and forth.

For example, anthroposophists successfully create meaningful work for profoundly autistic individuals. They create an environment that adapts to the person's needs.

Well I am more PDD-NOS than Aspergers and I dont know if I would qualify for disablility.

My dream life would be to win the lottery, and then spend my hours doing volunteer work

-Phone counselling
-Working for services that assist elderly
-Tree planting

I would also paint, write, etc... perhaps give tarot card readings..

Im just not a 9 to 5 person and I am too visually sensitive to work at a computer for much longer.

I dont really know what to do. But doing one type of work 40 hours per week just doesnt appeal.

Finding and keeping employment has always been difficult for me,it is the teamwork, multi-task duty , etc. that draw me away from a real employee job... So, I am self-employed, I have started on my own doing landscaping and housekeeping detail and I love it. I choose my hours, my clients, my pay rate, etc..... It is all under the table, so there will be no benefits in the future for me.... But, it works for me, I am very comfortable with the folks I help, and if I do not like where I work, I step back from the job and find another .

The last figure for unemployment in AS/HFA for the UK was 88%. But I have a feeling this is the rate for those that are in contact with the mental health services, which obviously creates a bias in the figures. I have to say that in the UK, we have a picture of Sweden as being the ultimate Nanny State. [You don't need a Green Card to come to the UK, and you'd be most welcome...]

Well, social welfare state Germany is anything but well-faring.

The social services are the worst thing there is here, are mean, treat you horribly, try to push you out of getting money constantly.

I want to work, I really hope I can manage, but it's yet to be seen whether I can or can't. I must grow less autistic first.
My dream is to get off the dole as soon as possible, never to return to that status ever. 'Unemployment benefits', I fail to see the benefits.

In capitalist America, a job finds you!

I'm certainly "employable." It really depends upon whether or not I can actually find a job in my field (computer information systems) where I live, which unfortunately doesn't seem to be the case...

They may be unemployed officially, but is it possible that some of them may be at least self-employed?

Well, to add something.

I am neither employed nor unemployed. I would like to work but I don't feel the need to put myself in a job that I am going to dislike, or one where I would feel like an idiot doing (below potential). It is easy to get a job in America, it's just that I don't seem to make a good impression or I just bore myself doing tasks that I feel is best suited for a child.

I am going to college full-time. I use that as an excuse currently. Too many damn credits.

If that statistic is true(at best only 47% of people with AS/HFA are employed and at jobs well below their capacity, it is obvious that the current system isn't working very well for this subgroup of people.

Going on the dole doesn't accomplish anything except for going on the dole. It seems to me that it is also a tremendous waste of the talents and resources that people with HFA and AS are capable of contributing to society.

Living in the capitalist hellhole of the UK I'd love to swap with you. Anyway I've got a job, it's entirely worthless and utterly dead end so whether I can actually manage doesn't seem to matter, as long as I'm there and unhappy that's enough. It's slowly driving me insane though.